Some Hollywood actresses never seem to age.
Most people assume these women spend thousands of dollars on plastic surgery and injections to keep themselves looking so youthful. And some certainly do…
But not all of them.
One actress who’s vowed to stay far away from the plastic surgeon’s scalpel is Salma Hayek. And looking at her, it’s hard to believe she’s 50. Her skin is smooth, glowing and flawless, her hair is thick and shiny, and she’s got a great figure.
I’ve always been a fan of Salma’s. And I was even more impressed with her when I read about her “secret beauty trick.”
Bone broth.
My grandmother made a large pot of this healing broth in her kitchen every week. And I’d bet it was a staple in your grandma’s kitchen, too.
My grandma believed a hot cup of broth could “heal whatever ails you.” And research proves grandma knew what she was talking about.
Research going back as far as the 1950s proves that the gelatin that forms when you simmer animal bones into a rich broth helps treat ulcers, tuberculosis, diabetes, muscle diseases, infectious diseases, jaundice and cancer.
But bone broth doesn’t just cure disease. Salma swears it’s what’s helped her avoid Botox. She’s definitely onto something…
As bones and ligaments break down in the pot, the broth becomes rich in collagen. This protein helps form the connective tissue that supports firm skin. Women with lots of healthy collagen have smooth supple skin with fewer wrinkles and less puffiness.
In other words, more collagen means younger-looking skin. In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study, women who took in more collagen had improved skin elasticity after just eight weeks. They also had better skin moisture and less roughness. And they had fewer signs of accelerated aging.1
Collagen from bone broth can even improve cellulite. You see, your body’s normal fat is held in place by a network built of collagen. When collagen breaks down, the fat pops through and your skin puckers. It looks like an orange peel. To rebuild that network and tighten skin you need more collagen.
I recommend bone broth to all of my patients. It’s especially helpful when you are detoxing, fasting, or have digestive problems. Aim for eight ounces once or twice a day.
But don’t be fooled into believing that what you buy in the supermarket has the same benefits as what you can make on your own stovetop…
You see, most commercial products don’t contain real gelatin. Instead, they use chemicals and emulsifiers to thicken the broth. And they get their meaty flavor not from slow-simmering real meat, but from monosodium glutamate (MSG). This chemical tastes like meat, but it’s a neurotoxin.
To get the health and beauty benefits, you have to make bone broth the way our grandmothers did. And it’s easier than it sounds. The simmering takes time, but it’s really easy to prepare.
Here’s a simple chicken bone broth recipe that I like to use. Just be sure to start with pasture-raised chicken. And add a little apple cider vinegar to the pot to draw minerals out of the bones.
Simple Chicken Bone Broth Recipe
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- If you are using a whole chicken, cut it into several pieces.
- Place the chicken pieces in a large pot with water, vinegar and all the vegetables. Let stand 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Bring to a boil. Remove any scum that rises to the top.
- Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 6 to 8 hours.
- Remove chicken pieces with a slotted spoon. Let cool. Remove meat from the bones and reserve for other uses.
- Strain the stock into a large bowl. Store in your refrigerator or freezer.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
1. Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S. “Oral Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides Has Beneficial Effects on Human Skin Physiology: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.” Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2014;27:47-55.